Vikings at Chiefs - Week 4 - Record: 1-3

Okay, so let me get this straight. For Matt Cassel to have a fire lit under his rear end and play well, we need him to get into a sideline shouting match with Todd Haley after one of Haley's plays typically fails? Hey, I'm all in favor of the Bill Parcells style of kickin' player-ass to get them going, but I'm sorry.

I really think Haley has about three Super Bowl victories to go before he is in Parcells' class.

What got it done for the Chiefs today was a blending of all the things that got them into the playoffs last year.

They were, in no particular order:

- Cassel playing like the take-no-prisoners QB that he can be.

- Bowe having one of his patented phenomenal days, with his one beautifully wonderfully excellently touchdown play standing out (and it was indeed vintage Bowe because he bobbled the catch terribly before doing his geniusness on the field).

- Our defensive backs so in the face of the Vikings receivers that Flowers, Carr et al didn't have to take off their jerseys at the end of the game, they were already in the Vikings receivers mouths.

- Tamba Hali getting two clutch sacks and being all over Donovan McNabb like maggots on meat.

- Solid special teams play that included a long run-back on a punt from Gilbert Arenas, a booming 60+ punt from Dustin Colquitt, and five big-time field goals from Ryan Succup including two from 50 yards out.

What we also got were two bonuses that (gulp!) may give the Chiefs the ever-so slightest chance of being slightly competitive this year. (Oh I have no illusions about the slightest of slightosital nature of our chances -- they are still exceedingly slight...)

1. The fine play of another wide receiver. Steve Breaston has proven that he is not another Mark Bradley or Chris Chambers. He has been all over the field, making great plays (last week's catch against San Diego had to have been at the top of the highlight reel all week), and just being a very solid go-to guy when we need him.

2. Stalwart play from our defensive front. Can you believe it? I actually liked what I saw from Tyson Jackson today. And that was with Wallace Gilberry in there still doing better than Jackson. Our overall defensive scheme held super-back Adrian Peterson under 100 yards on the day, and that is really saying something.

Will I still give Todd Haley a break? Nah. Any team can beat any other team on any given Sunday. Today we got good performances from all our guys, at home, in a close contest, against a less-than-mediocre Minnesota team.

So the crusade still moves forward. We should still replace Haley with Jim Zorn (oh my -- don't get me wrong -- just for the rest of the season!) and find someone who'll

Get the job done every single week.
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